When she donned the hijab at the beginning of Advent, Larycia Hawkins was probably not thinking about terrorism. The Wheaton College associate professor was acting in solidarity with a marginalized group and living out the precept she had always taught her students: "theoretical solidarity is no solidarity at all." She felt compelled to challenge Islamaphobia in a most dramatic and effective manner: by dressing like a Muslim woman. Whether she intended to or not, however, Hawkins has struck a blow against ISIS.
Extremist organizations, especially religious ones, seek to create a simple them-versus-us world. They want to move from the periphery of the faith they have coopted to its center, claiming to speak for all believers. They like nothing better than to have their enemies attack not only them, but the religion they claim to represent. The call to bar Muslims from entering the United States is grist for their ideological mill. "See," the zealots of the Islamic State can tell their followers, "We told you the Americans are waging a war against Islam."
By wearing the head scarf and explaining why she did so, Dr. Hawkins has challenged that assertion. She boldly proclaimed to the world that not all Christians condemn Islam. That she took this stand on the campus of a conservative Christian college makes her statement all the more powerful. "Standing with" has always been the most effective and certainly the most courageous form of social justice advocacy.
Hawkins' statement recalls a similar courageous action taken just over 70 years ago. In January 1945, the commandant of a German prisoner of war camp demanded that Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds identify the Jews in his unit. "We are all Jews," Edmonds calmly replied, refusing to change his statement even when the commandant put a gun to his head. Even at the risk of his life, the Christian Edmunds stood with the Jews just as the Christian Hawkins stands with the Muslims.
Hawkins has not been threatened with death, but she has been punished. Rather than applaud her behavior, Wheaton College has suspended her. The administration insists that it was not the scarf but Hawkins's statement that Muslims and Christians "worship the same God" that raises "significant questions" about her adherence to the college's statement of faith. Unfortunately, Wheaton's decision may diminish the success of Hawkins' act. When it comes to how a religion is perceived, the behavior of institutions matters more than that of individuals. Nonetheless, Dr. Hawkins has shown us all how to combat intolerance and thus fight to terrorism.